Tony Pulis annoyed by dressing room 'bust-up' leak

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has issued a statement expressing his disappointment that news of a reported dressing-room bust-up between Abdoulaye Faye and Glenn Whelan was made public.

Potters captain Faye and midfielder Whelan allegedly clashed at half-time and following the 7-0 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday and had to be separated by team-mates and backroom staff.

Pulis, who did not confirm or deny the reports, said on www.stokecityfc.com: "I maintain that what happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. Both Glenn Whelan and Abdoulaye Faye are disappointed that again the confines of our sanctuary have been breached.

"The lads have also expressed their own disappointment but understand that there are obviously one or two people who, for their own reasons, feel it necessary to leak out this information."

It is the second time this season that details of a dressing-room spat have emerged after reports of a confrontation between Pulis and James Beattie in December over the players' Christmas party.

But Pulis, who did not speculate on who could be leaking the information, insisted there is no problem with togetherness at the club.

He continued: "Irrespective of these individuals, we are desperate to get back on the pitch and put in a performance that truly shows our achievements this season in the right light.

"The game against Everton (on Saturday) is already sold out, so we have a great opportunity to show everybody outside Stoke-on-Trent that the dressing room, the terraces and the boardroom are united in their aims to help this great club in its quest to keep moving onwards and upwards."